Newbury College is challenging the approach to full-time, further education with a ground-breaking new programme that facilitates a link between school and work by creating an environment for undecided students to discover their potential.
The Achieve Programme is part of the College's Careers, not courses initiative, an evolution of their sixth-form provision that provides young people with a career-focused education. It has been designed and developed in partnership with local employers, and one of the first programmes of its kind to be launched in the country.
Students enrolling on the Achieve Programme are being given the opportunity to combine valuable qualifications with meaningful work placement and the added support of a college job coach to enable them to progress to an apprenticeship or career in their chosen field.
The new programme complements the college's already comprehensive range of full-time study programmes that cover a variety of technical subjects from carpentry, plumbing, and electrical installation to child care, hairdressing and music technology.
Vice Principal, Lee Hunt MBE, said: At Newbury College, we have been building some fantastic relationships with local employers to shape our curriculum offer. We are delighted that so many employers are supporting this innovative programme and can see the value that it can bring to their businesses and the young people who have taken this opportunity to improve their employment prospects with us.
Enrolment for the 2019/2020 academic year has already started, but the College wants young people to know that it is not too late to enrol. Special advice and guidance clinics have been set up at the College's Monks Lane campus to provide support for anyone who still undecided or unsure about their options.
Lead Careers Adviser, Karen Taylor, said: Making a decision about what you are going to do in the future can be a daunting experience at any time, least of all when you still studying for your GCSEs. We appreciate that some young people may have been reconsidering their year 12 options over the summer holidays and we want them to know that it is not too late to change their minds. We are happy to meet with any young person to discuss their options and help them to decide on the right path to the career they want.
There is still time to enrol on a full-time study programme at Newbury College, the innovative new Achieve Programme or enquire about an apprenticeship with one of the College's many industry partners.
Newbury College opened its doors to over a hundred young school leavers on Monday, providing a taste of college life and their future careers.
The annual event has become increasingly more popular, as the College embraces a new career-focussed curriculum, which is being led by local employers and aims to provide young people with the skills they need to succeed in their future employment.
Vice Principal, Lee Hunt MBE, said: At Newbury College we believe in careers, not courses, and we have been building some fantastic relationships with local employers to shape our curriculum offer. We are delighted that so many young people share in our vision and have taken this opportunity to choose Newbury College to improve their employment prospects.
The school leavers visiting this year's event took part in a range of hands-on, career-related exercises, including graphic design workshops, electrical installation projects, performance car demonstrations from Think Ford and some innovative team building activities, before enjoying some fun in the summer sun with an inflatable bungee-run and a live performance by LongDayLateNight.
Newbury College has been laying the groundwork for the launch of new T Level qualifications, a mixture of classroom learning and on-the-job' experience that will be equivalent to 3 A Levels. These new qualifications will provide the knowledge and experience needed to open the door into skilled employment, further study or a higher apprenticeship.
While the official launch date for T Level qualifications is set for 2020, Newbury College is already making many of the changes ahead of time, allow students enrolling in September 2019 to benefit from studying a subject that is both engaging and worthwhile.
There is still time to apply for a full-time study programme at Newbury College or enquire about an apprenticeship with one of the College's many industry partners.
On Tuesday 25 June, engineering students studying at Higher National Certificate (HNC) and Higher National Diploma (HND) levels, presented their end of year projects to a panel of expert judges and dignitaries including the Mayor of Newbury, Cllr Elizabeth O'Keeffe, Cllr Graham Pask and Cllr Mike Cole.
Almost 90 students, many of whom are in paid employment as higher-level apprentices, competed with their peers for the Best Project in their relevant categories. Students were able to gain vital feedback on their project design and development and practice their presentation skills throughout the exhibition. Many of the projects have been created for and applied to the businesses in which the students are employed.
Newbury College was delighted to welcome back former Degree student and IED award winner, George Collins, to speak about his journey into a career in Engineering, and introduce the awards.
The winners are:
HNC Electrical & Electronics (Level 4)
Runner-up - Megan Purchas, AWE
Best Project - Liam Mundy, STFC
HND Electrical & Electronics (Level 5)
Runner-up - Joe Thompson, Thames Water
Best Project - James Lavington, Thames Water
HNC Mechanical Engineering (Level 4)
Runner-up - Andrew Male, Diamond Light Source
Best Design Unit - Oliver Hensberg, MSA ' The Safety Company
Best Project - Calan Kenward, LG Motion
HND Mechanical Engineering (Level 5)
Runner-up ' Adam Churchman, STFC
Best Project ' Callum Brown, Reeling Systems Ltd
Iain Wolloff, Principal and Chief Executive, Newbury College said, We were particularly delighted to see the outstanding quality of the work on display. Our annual Engineering Exhibition is a fantastic model of our degree level programmes and sets the standard for the expansion of our higher-level provision with the development of University Centre Newbury (UCN).
If you want to find out more about a career in Engineering or Apprenticeships contact our business team on 01635 845229.
Plans to establish the University Centre Newbury (UCN) took a significant step forward with the recent granting of planning permission for the multi-million pound new development. The Centre will provide degrees and other higher level qualifications in the key sectors of digital technology, business & finance, engineering, health & social care and construction.
The first students of the University Centre will begin their studies in dedicated facilities within the College building in September 2020, before moving into the iconic new building once it is completed. Images of the new building at the front of the College campus show how the UCN will work as a key part of the learning campus for Newbury and West Berkshire. The original timescales for the completion of the building have been extended to focus on the development of the state-of-the-art digital facilities and achieve the demanding zero-carbon standard; constructing the first public building in West Berkshire to achieve this new level in sustainability.
College Principal, Iain Wolloff said:
We are delighted at the fantastic progress with establishing the Centre and look forward to welcoming the first UCN students in September 2020 to study in the dedicated space within the existing College facilities, before moving into the exciting new building. We have been amazed at the enormous support for the Centre from employers and organisations throughout the community and will launch a range of new degrees and other HE courses as planned'.
Geoff Knappett, Chair of Corporation, said:
The enthusiasm for the University Centre was been overwhelming and I am thrilled at both the approval of the fantastic new building and the plans for the University Centre project to get underway in specialist accommodation. I would like to thank all those who have worked so hard in the College, in our University partners and across West Berkshire, to turn the long-held dream of a University Centre into a reality'.
You can listen to the Principal talking about UCN on BBC Radio Berkshire here or find out more about higher-level study options, visit our higher education page